Cyclists vs. Drivers in today's Trib

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on April 4, 2011 at 4:47pm

If everyone drove the speed limit the roads would grind to a halt.

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Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on April 4, 2011 at 5:11pm

We're pretty pleased with this editorial...hopefully IDOT is hearing the message.

 

If you haven't called, emailed or written them to ask them to track doorings, please consider reaching out.

 

http://www.thechainlink.org/forum/topics/take-action-on-dooring-call

 

Thanks much,

Ethan Spotts, Marketing & Communications, Active Trans

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Permalink Reply by magomawe on April 4, 2011 at 6:04pm

A clog as iggi describes is annoying for faster bikers or drivers. Buses do provide an example of blocking ans slowing the traffic flow that has a rippling effect, but unlike single filed bikes they are not easy to pass. Thus they create a much bigger slow spot.  I'd imagine that causing someone to slow down a few seconds before they pass you contributes minimally to the traffic and pollution problem, especially considering the pollution offset by biking.

 

The clogging as originally said on the article would probably make many readers (at least me) think of congestion in the form of more vehicles on the road, which bikes arguably alleviate.

 

But of course this form of clogging would be non existent on the roads if there were more separated bikeways, the clogging would just be on the bikeways for better or worse.

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Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on April 4, 2011 at 6:39pm

Separated bikeways would clog auto traffic because they would use space otherwise available to autos, just as bike lanes clog auto traffic now. This is a good thing—one thing I like about cycling infrastructure is that it makes driving more of a pain in the ass, encouraging people to use transit, bike or walk—but clogging is in fact what it is.

 

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Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on April 4, 2011 at 8:25pm

Bikers clog the roads!? Really? I guess the 3-55 extension was built for bike riding.

 

Until I get to Western I'm faster than most of the traffic.

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Permalink Reply by Naomi Ruth Jackson on April 5, 2011 at 11:17am

I liked the way the writer handled this, but I still have no sympathy for motorists who feel entitled to treat me like I'm invisible.

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Permalink Reply by J.P. on April 5, 2011 at 3:03pm

I see what you are saying, but to be quite frank with you, I have never actually seen that happen in reality. Yes sometimes a car is stuck behind a cyclists for a few seconds and maybe the car behind are slowed down as well for maybe a second or two. But to say that "it is very disruptive ... vehicles slow way down and even stop" and many cars are affected is just not something that I have ever witnessed. Might happen with a bus or delivery van, but not a bike.

James Baum said:

Clog as in block/slow the general traffic flow. 

 

And yes we actually do contribute to congestion when traffic can't get by and faster auto traffic is plowing into a "slow spot" that is moving 5-15MPH slower than the general flow of traffic.  When there is a slow spot it becomes a "rate limiting step."    It starts a chain reaction and keeps getting worse and growing backwards like a tail backwards up the road behind the blockage as more vehicles enter the slow zone than can exit it in any given time.  

 

Any slower vehicle can do this and yes it is very disruptive and when vehicles slow way down and even stop when congestion it makes fuel usage and air pollution much worse.  Buses tend to do this as well as they start and stop and disrupt traffic.  

 

Denying the fact isn't helping the situation any.

 

That said, I thought the comments weren't as mean/nasty as they usually are.  Oh, the typical "license bikes like cars bullcrap.  When are we going to start licensing pedestrians?  Let me zee your paperzs!!! Infringing on the rights of citizens to move about freely by issuing licenses to travel in non-motorized vehicles is unconstitutional.  

magomawe said:

"Bikers clog the roads"  haha. If by clog you mean - take up 1/30 of the space of a SUV.

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